V Fit MMUC-1 Manual Magnetic Upright Cycle Review

V Fit has a reputation for building inexpensive, reliable, no-frills home fitness equipment and it’s been a while since we reviewed a manually controlled exercise bike so when we saw the V Fit MMUC-1 manual upright bike we had to take a look.

Assembly is as straightforward as it can get on this bike and even with the added step of connecting the resistance mechanism it took us less than 20 minutes to complete the build. The resulting bike is quite impressive. The construction is solid and once levelled this upright bike is as sturdy as most other models that are in the same price bracket. All the pieces went together perfectly with all the threads nicely cut so that all the bolts screw in smoothly which gives a good indication that on this model, like many other V Fit products, has been built to give good service and last a long time.

Getting a comfortable riding position is paramount on any exercise bike, but especially on an upright model. And that’s just what you get with this bike. The saddle adjusts horizontally and vertically and it’s also possible to tilt the handlebars towards and away from you. This means that it’s quick and easy to get into a comfy riding position and there’s also a lot of actual adjustment room so that even tallest of our testers at 6ft 4″ was able to get into a sensible riding position.

The resistance on the MMUC-1 is controlled by a fully mechanical system. Simply turn the dial on the front post to control the resistance. Decrease the resistance and the tension cable pulls the magnet away from the flywheel. Turn the dial the other way and the magnet pulls itself towards the flywheel. The maximum resistance setting on our test model would be adequate for most people, though there are only 8 levels to select from so the jump from one level to the next is noticeable, unlike an electronic bike which is more subtle in changes and provides more control. The upside of this fully mechanical system is that, unlike a servo motor based system (most upright bikes use servo motors) which always takes a few seconds to move the magnet, the change in resistance is immediate. This immediacy does make this bike feel responsive in a way that only high-end, expensive bikes with electromagnetic braking can match. The 3kg is a let-down however as while perfectly smooth and quiet during a ride, the MMUC-1 is not entirely consistent throughout the entire cycle, and, just as you pass the point of no return you can feel a very small change in the speed. It’s only a very small change, and hats off to V Fit for making a bike with a 3kg flywheel feel as good this, but it is there and that’s a pity as an extra couple of kg on the flywheel weight would probably eliminate this completely.

Being a manually controlled bike there’s not an awful lot of work for the console to do. So, unlike an electronic bike, there are no onboard workouts here. No races against the clock or other riders, no interactive training. There’s an LCD screen which does a nice job of displaying the training data including Calorie (Theoretical Calorie Burn), Distance (Miles / Km), PulseSpeed (MPH / Kmh), and Time. It does what it does well enough though there’s no reason we can see why it wouldn’t or couldn’t include a wireless heart rate receiver. At this price for a manual bike that really isn’t asking too much as they’re to be found in similarly priced electronic bikes which are more expensive to produce.

The V Fit MMUC-1 comes with a 12-month warranty, which is half the length of cover you get with most other manufacturers when looking at similarly priced models. That’s a bit stingy in our opinion, especially given the simple nature of this bike which means that it’s hardly likely to go wrong, and even if it does it’s an inexpensive thing to put right. On the other hand, it’s not likely to break down and even if it does, see above, so does it really matter?

All in all, the MMUC-1 is well built, feels responsive and will do a job. If you have a specific reason for wanting a manual bike such as a lack of electricity in the place you’re planning to put it and you don’t like the idea of batteries then this is a good choice, and better than a lot of manual bikes out there. But, if you don’t have a specific reason, then it’s hard to see why you’d opt for this model. The fact is that at this price this isn’t a cheap manual bike and there are plenty of very good electronic models from reputable manufacturers that will provide you with a bike that will help to keep you entertained and challenged and provide you with lots of training options. Those things matter as they make it easier to stay motivated which makes it easier to stick to your training programme, which of course makes it easier to reach your goals……